The Wait is Over!!!!

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Bell:

Thank you for your support in serving children and families in the state of Arkansas.  You are now being invited to participate in the training curriculum that will prepare you to become a foster or adoptive parent.

This, my friends, is the beginning of a very anticipated letter.  As of Thursday, November 11th, Matt and I will be starting our 27 hours we need to be one step closer to our dream, our destiny, our family!  We will be done completing our hours on Saturday, December 18th, at 4:00 pm.  During this time, we will also complete two home studies, one for fostering and the other to adopt.  We are excited, we are nervous, we are VERY busy!!!!  Getting rooms ready, child proofing home, setting up beds, lock up knives (don't ask), draw a evacuation plan for fire and tornado (again don't ask), put latch on frig (I won't tell you what not to do here), hang 2nd fire alarm, finish decorating kids rooms, and buy necessities to be prepared!  I know there's more to do, but this will get me started. 

Our journey is starting to cut a path, but we are still in the woods.  A lot could happen and this road dead end.  There are no guarantees.  We are still waiting on our FBI report, and we have to pass both home studies, and who knows what else.  But my friends, we are hopeful!  We know that God has a plan for us and we are patiently waiting for that plan to play out.  I know that some days we have more patience than others, but we pray everyday that he gives us strength to carry us through this. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE."  We live on hope, we have for 9 years 9 months.  Ever since we started trying to conceive, we live on HOPE and know that one day our FUTURE will be just as he, our all mighty GOD, had planed for us. Know this, we have not always listened to what he wanted, this has taken time.  Obviously I want my own children, that's my plan, but now I want his plan, whatever that my be or look like.  I have a child out there for me, in fact I believe with all my heart that I have several children out there for me, but not from me.  GOD's plan is much bigger than I could have ever dreamt! I can't wait to see what else he has planned for me and my family :)

Psalms 22:1-3 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want: he makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters: he RESTORES MY SOUL.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake."  As heart broken as I have been, he will restore my soul and I will walk this path for his name and glory!!!! And everyone said....